Searcher II

• Marine grade Black insulators will be used on the new antenna. The black will provide better protection again UV rays.
• Insulators on the new antenna have been relief cut to allow shorter fasteners to be used and still have the added strength of 1" thick insulators.
• All the radials have been re-cut to exacting lengths following the original ST2 (more on radial lengths in the The Journal(coming soon))
• Spacing of radials have been re-evaluated to replicate the original ST2 (more on radial spacing in The Journal (coming soon))
• Parasitic element duplicated same as ST2, Searcher I did not use a parasitic element.
• Aluminum fins are now being used on the new antenna, duplicated to match the original ST2. Searcher I antenna used round aluminum radials instead of the fins.
• Electrical insulating sleeves are being used where added fasteners are used for strength, the insulating sleeves will Detach the added fastener from being part of the antenna. More on this in The Journal (coming soon))
• Full Waterproof  300-75 Ohm  matching transformer will be used, Plastic covered transformers are NOT waterproof. The Searcher II will use GE Waterproof transformers.
• June 7, 2020 - UPDATE: 300-75ohm Matching transformer

UPDATE: - The GE transformers - 

The GE Transformer will not be used, I am still not decided on which transformer will be used, but the GE I wanted to use will not work, The lead end (wires) are to short to work, it makes the wires to tight and I am afraid it could damage the transformer in the long end or even pull the wires out. Anyway, I am still looking into the best option.

• A standard mast mounting clamp will replace the Heavy Duty clamp used on the Searcher I antenna, This will be a through mast type clamp like most standard OTA TV antennas use. 
• Fasteners (where possible) have been cut to exacting lengths as the original ST2 aluminum rivets. Does the length of a fastener affect the antenna?, Not sure but have been told it Does. (more on this in The Journal (coming soon))
• Smaller secondary radial mounting plates will be used to reduce the physical and electrical aspects of the antenna to keep them as close as possible to the original ST2 design and physical structure of the antenna, without giving up on the added strength and durability of The Searcher II antenna. 
• June 6, 2020 - UPDATE: for the comments directly above this line.

UPDATE:  - Secondary Radial Mounting Plates - 

After making the smaller secondary radial mounting plate as discussed above, I was NOT satisfied that it was sufficient to maintain the integrity of the secondary elements. Because of the thicker walled elements/tubes which has added weight, I have decided to stay with the original size (larger) mounting plate.

One of the key aspects of the Searcher Antenna is it's ability to with stand weather and high winds where the original ST2 antenna Failed Miserably, and the smaller mounting plate did not provide (in my mind) enough support in the case of high winds, so bigger is better in this case and now I feel very strongly that the secondary elements will have plenty of support in a High wind situation. 

Does this affect the Mechanical aspects of the antenna which could in turn affect the electrical aspects of the antenna?  Testing will tell and other adjustments CAN be made to overcome this issue if it in fact is an issue at all. 

We shall see.............. Stay Tuned.......... Testing SHOULD start soon.

Comment:

 Thanks for updating the website and for all the hard work and effort  being put into this.  It's not easy.  Glad to see the project wasn't  abandoned and hope it pays off.  Looking forward to the final product. 

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Comment:

Dear Skyward Antennas,

So glad to hear you are building an HD version of the infamous ST2 by Antennacraft!  

I had the precursor to  the ST2, the three-band Channel Master 5094a ‘Monitenna’ back in the  late ’80s / early ’90s.  I had just left the active-duty Army had joined  the corporate world,  so for fun, I began serving as a volunteer EMT at a local upstate NY  ambulance corps (Finger Lakes area.)  So I decided to purchase a Cobra  SR-925 16-channel scanner to monitor my dedicated ambulance frequencies  as well as Ontario County (Rochester, NY) EMS,  Fire, and Police dispatch and fire ground channels.  But I knew I  needed a better antenna.

So after heading down to  my local Radio Shack, I found the 5094a on sale…so I bought it.  A week  later, I had it up and running on the top of my house.  I could pick up  EVERYTHING with that  antenna and was really happy with it for close to six years.  Several  months before I moved to California and became a road-warrior  consultant, I took the antenna down and found the plastic insulators  embrittled by UV and upstate-NY weather.  So in the trash  it went.

Now 26 years later, I’m  back full swing in the radio hobby and setting up my radio shack with my  ham, CB, and scanner gear.  Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to  buy an ST2 in recent  years, but I’m looking forward to your Searcher I becoming available.

I registered on your website for your mailing list, and hope to see photos, pricing, and availability soon.  

Thanks,

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 Comment:

Skyward Antennas / digitalanalog,

Saw the  update on your webpage, and that is great to hear the Searcher II is  coming our way.  Those improvements sound like just what the doctor  ordered.  In talking with my  colleague who I work with (and also a ham,) he actually has a brand new  ST2 in his garage which he’s never put up.  But after all this talk  about the Searcher I/II, he’s now motivated to get it up in his attic  and see what it does!

Do to previous lack of respect and ignorance, There will NOT be any information pertaining to progress, updates, testing  or  availability from Skyward Antennas (digitalanalog) on Radio Reference  forums.  The Searcher  Antenna information will only be found on this web site.

I don’t blame you one iota.  Those self-righteous assholes are all posers  who are all talk and no action.  As we used to say in the Army, “all flash, no bang.”

A few questions:  What kind of coax are you supplying with the Searcher II?   RG-6 with F connectors?  Could a customer upgrade it to RG-8 or even LMR-400?  Would those cables improve performance at all?

Regardless, thanks, and appreciate the updates.  Keep the information coming!

• ANSWER:  Skyward Antennas will NOT be including Coax with the antennas.  Antenna, Matching Transformer and Mounting Clamp Only.

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Comment:

 It was brought to my attention that you are manufacturing a scanner  antenna that resembles the famous Scan-Tenna SC-2 base station  receive-only antenna. Is this a fact? Someone posted your website on the  Chicago Area Radio Monitoring Association (CARMA) website.   Can you tell me if this is true? How much do you charge for your antenna?

Comment:

Hello

I seldom post on the forum.  To many people that think they know it  all.  They try to make others look stupid.  I have my name on your  list.  I'm still looking forward to buying one of your antennas if you  follow through with the project.  Thanks for the info  you are putting out.  The antenna looks neat.

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Comment:

Hello

Your project with the antenna still on?

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Comment:

Don't let these old by the book no real usage people get to you. I think  you are doing wonderfull, keep up the good work. This forum should be  renamed the arm chair quarterback radio guy's.

Comment:

Ignore ***,  He's a poser. He used to have a scanning group here in GA that failed horribly. I was even a mod on it. For what that's worth. He likes to fancy himself as a real scanner expert, but isn't even close.
Just saying..........